Onboarding farm and animal-care workers

Key facts

Employer resource

Fair Work publishes an induction checklist [source]

Combine employment and workplace preparation

Fair Work publishes an induction checklist and information-statement resources for employers. Those provide a starting structure, while the property or animal-care operation needs its own role-specific induction. Sending documents before arrival does not demonstrate that a worker understands the site, people, animal-care system or the tasks they are authorised to undertake. Plan time for explanation and confirmation rather than relying on a signature alone.

Introduce the actual operating system

Identify supervisors, handover arrangements, daily records and the route for reporting a concern. Show where instructions and relevant equipment information are kept. For dog-related work, distinguish animals the worker may handle independently from activities requiring supervision. For a farm role, identify which equipment and livestock tasks are within the person’s demonstrated capability and which need further training or assessment.

Make unexpected situations discussable

Explain who to contact when an instruction is unclear, a dog’s condition changes or the planned task cannot proceed. Ask the worker to describe the reporting route back in their own words. Avoid expecting a newcomer to infer local practice from watching an experienced person once. Include relief and after-hours arrangements where they form part of the actual role, and confirm who can authorise changes.

Review after initial experience

Record what has been covered, what remains supervised and when the next review will occur. Invite questions after the worker has experienced the real work cycle. Update the induction if duties, animals or equipment change rather than assuming the first-day checklist covers every future task. Keep employment documentation and practical training records connected while maintaining appropriate privacy and access for the people who need them.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• Fair Work: induction checklist (opens in a new tab)
• Fair Work: information statements (opens in a new tab)
• Safe Work Australia: agriculture duties (opens in a new tab)

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